[hider=Ward File: 'Keystone']
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[h3][b][color=a36209] Keystone [/color][/b][/h3]

[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7sNIyP14X8][color=a36209]"I'm really not in the mood for small talk right now. Unless you want to play Tetris or Chess, fuck off before I tell the shrink about your crippling need for validation."[/color][/url]

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[color=a36209][b]Name:[/b][/color]
Ethan Pierce

[color=a36209][b]Cape Codename:[/b][/color]
Keystone

[color=a36209][b]Age:[/b][/color]
14

[color=a36209][b]Appearance:[/b][/color]
Keystone is an African-American male, standing at 5'6 and weighing 145 lbs. He has amber eyes and lacks any discernible markings or scars. Has a burgeoning athletic build, presumably from the running and weight-lifting routine that he developed after triggering.

Ethan favors t-shirts, shorts, cargo pants, and other casual attire. Most formal wear agitates his power by being too impractical and constricting, though the PR department has discussed having a suit custom-made for him to be more accommodating. Has a similar disdain for accessories and jewelry, only wearing his ear piercings and necklace because they are gifts from his parents.

His costume took almost as long as some Tinkers to design, as it was a constant battle between Ethan, the PR department, and the engineering department on what the final product would look like. It is comprised of a black cloak that has been thermally treated and is resistant to cutting, along with a gas mask, cargo pants, steel-toed boots, and a vest. Ethan also carries a wide assortment of tools and weapons, most of which he is unfamiliar with - this includes pepper spray, a baton, a small first aid kit, a lockpick, and several other lightweight items that would not encumber him such as his phone. The knives and the crossbow were especially contentious points, for the PR department and the engineering department respectively.

[hider=Cape Attire]
[img]https://safebooru.org//samples/4013/sample_80e21f71236a916b152ae3efc42ca504ba40e010.jpg?4193192[/img]

[color=6ecff6]PR Department: It's generic and boring, and doesn't match his name at all. If we weren't so desperate for Wards right now, this kid's merchandise career would be dead in the water. If we're lucky, he'll drop the knives and crossbow in exchange for the hammer and chisel gimmick we worked out.[/color]

[color=ed1c24]Engineering Department: Thirty-three drafts! If this ███████ brat wants to play tinker, he can do it without flooding us with work! HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO USE A CROSSBOW - WHY HAVE US MAKE A WRIST-MOUNTED ONE!? Tell him never to come to this workshop again talking ████ about my designs, I'll kick his a-[/color]

[color=a36209]I made a lot of concessions - I mean, glowing eyes? Tacky as hell and ruins stealth. Gonna talk with Axiom or some other tinker about working in an intensity dial for that later.[/color]
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[color=a36209][b]Personality:[/b][/color]
Ethan has an abrasive and confrontational personality that has made integration into the Wards difficult, to say the least. He relentlessly harasses those around him, primarily through verbal means or general disrespect, and doesn't seem to consider how his actions affect others. He is especially aggressive towards individuals who trigger his power, and rarely accepts apologies for repeated 'offenses'. Authority figures are very hit-or-miss, walking a fine line of being respected for their control or despised for not listening to Ethan's advice.

[color=a36209]Here's a freebie for anyone reading - my least favorite type of people are idiots who act without thinking first. Good intentions mean jack shit when you're making things worse for everyone else.[/color]

He has significant trust issues, presumably [color=a36209]fuck you stop assuming things about me[/color]. These are most prevalent with peers around his age, and while not usually important for daily life, it is important to correct this as soon as possible. Trust is a vital component of working in the Wards, and Ethan's inability to rely on others can easily cost lives.

Ethan also seems to suffer a fate that many parahumans seem to share - a mental disorder inflicted as a result of his power. In Ethan's case, he suffers from acute Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD), which has caused him to become very controlling and hold a high standard for everything he does. When faced with flaws and disorder, he naturally feels compelled to either fix and correct them, or destroy the source of his irritation - failure to do so appears to cause significant stress and anxiety in Ethan, and he visits PRT psychologists on a weekly basis to help find better coping strategies.

While initially cold, Ethan appears to be extremely loyal to those who earn his trust and grows close to him - this can be seen most evidently in his relationship with his father. Most of the fights Ethan has participated in pre-trigger were a result of people insulting his parents, and Ethan uses a large percentage of his income from the Wards to supplement the household income and enable his father to work fewer hours. It is hoped that he can foster a similar relationship with his peers in the Wards [color=a36209](unlikely)[/color].

Ethan holds himself to the same standards he holds others to - when he makes mistakes he is quick to correct himself, and he is genuinely apologetic when he (unintentionally) inconveniences those around him. He seems to be better behaved for a few days after a substantial error.

It is believed that Ethan's struggle to difficulty in forming interpersonal relationships ori- [color=a36209]Yeah I don't like editing this stuff since I can get in trouble and you guys have backups anyways, but I'm just gonna delete the rest of this part. Don't psychoanalyze me bitch, that's the shrink's job.[/color]

[color=a36209][b]Power Classification:[/b][/color]
Thinker 5 / Tinker 0

[color=a36209][b]Power Description:[/b][/color]
Keystone is a Thinker who possesses an exceptional ability to detect and analyze weaknesses in any observed entity or system. This allows him to easily identify the most easily exploitable points to target, such as the central support in a building, or the optimal areas to attack an opponent. 

The weaknesses that Keystone can identify are not limited to the physical - anything that makes a system vulnerable can be analyzed. This includes identifying passwords to locks and computer systems, finding which individuals in a group are vulnerable to intimidation or bribery, the ways to break an opponent's strategy in chess, and even identifying personal trauma and issues in team dynamics.

Additionally, Keystone's ability to detect weaknesses also seems to grant an understanding of why the vulnerability exists and the consequences of targeting it. In one test, Keystone was able to identify that a PRT guard had a blood clot in his leg, which could have potentially proven fatal had the guard suffered a serious injury. In addition to being an exceptional diagnostic tool for medical purposes, it proves invaluable for dealing with Tinkers - both to support Protectorate tinkers and help them refine their creations, as well as to exploit and destroy the tinkertech used by villains.

Keystone's ability to work with Tinkers to help improve the designs of their work, as well as refine the designs and construction of mundane equipment that the PRT uses, has warranted a 'Tinker 0' designation. 

[color=a36209]I bug them with requests pretty frequently, so it's really only fair I return the favor and help them with quality assurance.[/color]

While exceptionally powerful, Keystone's ability does come with several notable limitations. The most prominent of these, at least in Keystone's perspective, is his inability to turn his power off. He claims that he sees the weaknesses and flaws in everything he looks at, incapable of tuning them out - something that Protectorate psychologists believe is a contribution to his pessimistic and antisocial demeanor.

Additionally, his power takes longer to identify weakpoints the more complex a system becomes. While identifying a password or finding the proper place to hit an opponent is nigh-instant, untangling the interpersonal conflicts in a large group or gaining entry into tinker-encrypted networks can take hours or even days of effort. It will also reveal more obvious flaws first, which can lead to 'tunnel vision' and cause more inconspicuous vulnerabilities to go unnoticed.

[color=a36209]This doesn't do it justice. Imagine an itch you can't reach, deep in the back of your mind. Every wound you see, every hidden trauma or petty little insecurity in the people around you, it's all lit up like a neon sign and making that itch more intense. You can see how to take advantage of everything around you, even if you don't want to. It builds up until you feel like your skull is on fire, until you can't help but lash out - tear open that fresh wound, expose that self-doubt and trauma, hit them where it [i]really[/i] hurts. 

Anything to make that itch go away.[/color]

[color=a36209][b]Countermeasures:[/b][/color]
In the event Keystone goes rogue (either willingly or via a Master effect), his ratings will be upped to Thinker 7 / Tinker 0 due to his intricate understanding of PRT / Protectorate systems and personnel - and more importantly, their vulnerabilities.

Countermeasures include standard Thinker procedures - Sensory disruption via smoke grenades and flashbangs, blocking off communication for the thinker, contacting PRT thinkers to assist in countering strategies, etc. Additionally, all PRT and Protectorate databases that Wards have access to will be immediately replaced with prepared duplicates, containing falsified information and Tinker malware.

Do not engage in direct combat - surprise attacks are most effective, followed by mid-long ranged combat. Arrests/containment should involve several redundancies including (but not limited to): liberal usage of Containment Foam, tinker-made handcuffs/restraints, a mouth gag to prevent communication, and as many forms of sensory deprivation as can reasonably be applied (blindfold, earplugs, etc). 

[color=6ecff6]PR Note: Avoid causing too much direct harm, as the PRT injuring minors is a very bad look. He's a little kid, how much trouble can he be?[/color]

[color=a36209]I'd say you are taking things way too seriously, but I [i]am[/i] altering confidential files right now. Maybe go light on the containment foam though? That stuff looks like a claustrophobic nightmare.[/color]

[color=a36209][b]Strengths:[/b][/color]
[color=a36209]Hacking:[/color] Hacking any kind of computer network or system is exceptionally easy for Ethan, as he is capable of identifying access points and passwords without any effort via his power. The only systems that are especially challenging are Tinker-encrypted networks, which can occasionally prove too difficult to bypass without another Tinker's help.

[color=a36209]First Aid:[/color] Ethan had received CPR and basic first aid training a year earlier, but has become far more interested in the topic after his father passed away. In combination with his power, Ethan is exceptionally talented when it comes to identifying and treating injuries on the field.

[color=a36209]Unarmed Combat:[/color] While he was never trained to fight, Ethan displays significant skill in direct combat, even discounting the use of his power. He is capable of enduring significant injury and pain, and is very willing to fight dirty and use everything at his disposal to hurt an opponent. This is most likely a result of fights he's been in pre-trigger, which were presumably one-sided and targeted. 

[color=a36209]I don't see it mentioned here, but I am very good at puzzle and strategy games. Tetris is my favorite - it barely aggravates my power and is addicting. Probably the closest thing there is to a 'flawless' game. Chess and Risk are nice too, but games against opponents are far less relaxing. Especially if they are novices that make too many mistakes.[/color]

[color=a36209][b]Weaknesses:[/b][/color]
[color=a36209]Neurotic:[/color] Due to his power constantly being active, Ethan is exposed to every failure that happens around him. Despite only triggering a month ago this has already had a significant impact on his personality, with Ethan having frequent outbursts against teammates for relatively minor mistakes. Additionally, he has been observed spending hours refining work that is perfectly fine as a result of his neurotic and obsessive tendencies. This has made working in a group setting like the Wards difficult.

[color=a36209]Socially Stunted:[/color] More a result of his upbringing, which has only been exacerbated since Triggering. Ethan is socially underdeveloped, lacking the emotional maturity and intelligence of other teenagers his age. He is abrasive and struggles to look at things from another person's point of view, and his inability to understand social cues without the use of his power has made forming interpersonal relationships difficult to say the least. Has gotten better since triggering due to his power pointing out flaws in his speech and mannerisms, though you can only improve so much in such a short time frame.

[color=a36209]Methodical:[/color] Ethan is incredibly averse to acting out without analyzing every possible option. As a result, situations that require snap judgments are completely out of his depth - an aspect that turns him from a potentially top-tier combat thinker to a subpar one, with more focus on supporting teammates rather than direct fighting. While he can act quickly in life-and-death situations, he will be far less confident in his capabilities and can trip himself up much more easily.

[color=a36209]I also am not very physically capable - I only started working out after triggering, and my routine has been fairly mild. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the other Wards are stronger than me. If you left this out to spare my feelings or reputation, know that I prefer accurate documentation. [/color]

[color=a36209][b]History:[/b][/color] 
Ethan Pierce was raised in foster care for the first seven years of his life, before eventually being adopted by Steven and Michael Pierce. He appears to have had a relatively normal upbringing from that point onwards - no indicators of domestic abuse, above-average academic performance, and few reported incidents from his school. It appears that Ethan had a close bond with his adoptive fathers, and held them in very high regard, somewhat of a rarity amongst younger capes. 

Ethan faced substantial discrimination and bullying at his school, though details are difficult to discern due to a lack of official records. Ethan claims he was primarily harassed over being adopted and his parents' sexual orientation, which has caused significant friction with his peers and numerous fights. Pressing charges has proven difficult due to a complete lack of record-keeping on part of the school - the PRT has contacted the Department of Education to investigate the school for their inability to address the situation, while Ethan has since been moved to a different school after joining the Wards.

Very little is on record beyond this. Teachers have commented on his lack of engagement in classes, neighbors mentioned that he mows lawns during the summer for spending money, but he lacks any major accomplishments or incidents. 

[hider=Trigger]
Keystone triggered shortly after the death of Michael Pierce, one of his fathers, who passed away from undiagnosed Leukemia. PRT Psychologists are under the impression that Keystone blames himself for his father's death - he appears to believe that if he had noticed the signs earlier, he could have pushed for treatment despite the financial cost, and his father might have survived a few years longer.

Fits in line with the working viewpoint on Trigger Event mechanics - his Thinker power derived from guilt and self-hatred, with the primary catalyst being the inability to see things deteriorating around him. Further details on the trigger are presumably known by PRT psychologists, but this is covered under patient confidentiality.

[color=6ecff6]PR Note: Great opportunity for a publicity stunt with local health officials - maybe have him give a lesson on CPR to some high schoolers, or have him talk about detecting the early signs of addiction? He'll probably agree given his background.[/color]

[color=a36209]Fuck you.[/color]
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Ethan revealed his parahuman status within days of triggering due to the irritation he suffered from his power, causing his father Steven Pierce to contact the local Protectorate. Several treatments were proposed, from isolation to chemical cocktails, though Ethan rejected all of them, claiming they were 'fucking stupid ideas'. 

Due to his exceptionally useful power and the extreme need for parahumans that Bridgewater is facing, Ethan was offered a position in the recently re-established Wards team. He agreed - though only on the condition that Protectorate officials keep on the lookout for Tinkers and Trumps that could help shut his power down outside of combat.

As of writing this report, Ethan is currently seeing a PRT psychologist on a weekly basis, which is believed to have had some positive impact on his mood and self-control.
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